Crime night success ensures imminent delivery of life-saving equipment

The operating suite team at Wimmera Base Hospital are closer than ever to getting their own life-saving rapid infuser after a successful Blue Ribbon Foundation event last week. 

The Horsham branch BRF committee has been working at raising the $47,000 needed to purchase the rapid infuser and a Crime Night at the Church of the Harvest last week raised $3500 to ensure the total needed will be secured by the end of the year. 

Melbourne homicide detectives Mick Hanna and Paul Rowe enthralled the 120 crime investigation enthusiasts who attended the Inside Story event with details of crimes they helped solve.

Det Hanna talked about his investigation into the murder of an infant at Bendigo while Det Rowe was able to give a first-hand account of the investigation of ABC employee Jill Maher’s abduction and murder in Brunswick. 

Blue Ribbon Foundation chair of the Horsham branch Dale Russell said the event was an outstanding success. 

“I’ve spoken to several people who attended, and they are still talking about how much they enjoyed it,” Mr Russell said. “The detectives were very appreciative of the reception they got too because they have both offered to return with different cases. 

“We’ve been running these events for quite a few years now and it’s great to see the numbers getting back to the pre-COVID days.” 

Mr Russell was full of praise for the detectives who donated their time free of charge to the foundation. 

“We are also thankful to Horsham organisations who helped make the night a success including Grampians Health, Harvest Church, The Weekly Advertiser, FarmGirl Produce, the Exchange Hotel and Town House Motel.” 

Mr Russell said that after the annual Blue Ribbon gala dinner on November 11, the foundation was expected to have enough funds to purchase the rapid infuser. 

Grampians Health Horsham operating suite nurse unit manager Jenny Thomson said the hospital has never owned a rapid infuser. 

“The particular rapid infuser we want to purchase with the foundation’s donation, delivers life-saving, warmed blood and fluid at the touch of a button,” Ms Thomson said. 

“That’s going to make our job much easier in emergency situations when someone is hemorrhaging heavily.”